The role of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) in the spread of many arboviral infections including dengue and chikungunya is now well-documented1–3. Aedes albopictus currently shows a global presence and recognized as a major threat to human health. In India, re-emergence of chikungunya has been reported from several states since 20054. Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) plays a key role in the transmission in va...

An epidemiologic assessment of the problem of cancer in women in Kerala based on 3 Population Cancer Registry data and a Hospital Based data is presented. Kerala's Socio-economic and demography presents an intermediate development from a less developed to a better-developed state. As yet, the women follow a tradition-based life style. Cancer incidence rate in Kerala was only 80% of urban rates ...

OBJECTIVE Low birth weight is associated with increased lifelong morbidity. Kerala has a renowned, low-cost, maternal-child health system in which is couched universal access to the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), central to which is community-based maternal-infant nutritional supplementation. We assessed whether children in this environment showed enhanced birth weight and postnata...

Eleven species of calappid and leucosiid crabs were identified from by-catch landed by trawlers at four fishing ports in Kerala, India that were surveyed in 2007 and supplemented by material obtained in January 2013. Four species are reported for the first time from India, six are new records for Kerala. The status of Mursia bicristimana Alcock & Anderson, 1894, is clarified and the species red...

A new species of Amomum Roxb. from Western Ghats of Kerala is illustrated and described. Amomum nilgiricum VP.Thomas & M.Sabu, sp. nov. shows similarity with Amomum masticatorium Thwaites in having long drying ligule with an acuminate apex, pubescent anther and echinate capsules, but differs in clump forming habit with non-stoloniferous rhizomes, tomentose lamina beneath, long corolla tube, obo...